Oklahoma Restaurant Insurance: What It Costs and Why It’s Critical in 2025
Steven Conway • May 30, 2025
What It Costs and Why It’s Critical in 2025
Tornadoes. Grease fires. Cyberattacks. Lawsuits from spilled drinks or undercooked steaks.
If you’re running a restaurant in Oklahoma, you’re not just serving up comfort food—you’re managing risks most people can’t see from the dining room.
From Edmond food trucks to Tulsa wine bars, restaurants across our state are dealing with higher premiums, pickier insurance carriers, and rising weather-related claims. And if you’re not covered properly, one bad day could eat your whole month’s profit.
Let’s break down what coverage really costs, why it’s getting harder to get, and how to protect your business before something hits the fan (or the fryer).
Top Risks for Oklahoma Restaurants
Running a restaurant is already a high-wire act. Add Oklahoma’s wild weather, liquor laws, and staffing challenges, and it becomes a full-blown juggling show—with knives.
| Risk | Why It Matters | Recommended Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Tornadoes & Hailstorms | We average 62+ tornadoes a year. If a storm shuts you down, that’s revenue lost. | Property + Business Interruption Insurance |
| Grease Fires | Ask any short-order cook—fires are more common than five-star reviews. | Property + Equipment Breakdown |
| Liquor Liability Lawsuits | Over-serve a guest who causes harm? You could be liable—even if they seemed fine. | Liquor Liability Insurance |
| Cyber Attacks | POS hacks are up. A phishing email can cost you more than your walk-in freezer. | Cyber Liability Insurance |
| Slip-and-Falls | One wet floor = one lawsuit. Welcome to General Liability 101. | General Liability Insurance |
| High Staff Turnover | New hires mean more chances for claims and coverage mistakes. | Workers’ Compensation |
| Delivery Drivers | Staff using personal vehicles? You may be on the hook for their accidents. | Hired & Non-Owned Auto (HNOA) |
| Spoilage & Power Loss | One Moore café lost $7,000 in food during a power outage. Storm season hits hard. | Spoilage + Equipment Breakdown |
Why Carriers Are Pulling Back in Oklahoma
You’re not imagining it: fewer carriers are writing restaurant policies in Oklahoma. Why?
- Severe weather is hitting books hard—especially hail and tornado claims.
- Reinsurance prices (the insurance for your insurance) went up, driving your rates higher.
- Legal liability in liquor and workers’ comp claims has made Oklahoma riskier for insurers.
If your renewal came back with a double-digit increase—or you were flat-out denied—you're not alone. That’s the new normal unless you’ve got the right advisor helping you navigate it.
What’s It Actually Cost to Insure a Restaurant in Oklahoma?
Depending on your location, size, payroll, and whether you serve alcohol or deliver, most restaurants spend 2–6% of annual revenue on insurance. That’s not a throwaway expense—that’s protection from a six-figure loss.
| Policy Type | Estimated Annual Premium | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| General Liability | $800 – $2,500 | Pays for customer injury claims and lawsuit defense |
| Property Insurance | $1,500 – $5,000 | Covers your building, kitchen, equipment, and improvements |
| Business Interruption | #ERROR! | Helps replace lost income after a covered shutdown |
| Workers’ Comp | $1,200 – $8,000 | Required by law, protects staff and your business |
| Liquor Liability | $700 – $3,500 | A must-have if you serve alcohol in any form |
| Cyber Liability | $400 – $1,500 | If you take cards, you need this—even small breaches are costly |
| Commercial Auto (delivery) | $1,000 – $3,000 | Covers staff drivers or food delivery vehicles |
| Umbrella Liability | $500 – $2,000 | Adds extra protection on top of your base liability policies |
Quick Tip: Haven’t reviewed your policy since pre-pandemic? You’re probably either underinsured—or overpaying.
Restaurant Insurance Must-Haves (2025 Checklist)
These are the baseline protections almost every Oklahoma restaurant needs. If you're missing any of these, your risk is higher than your lunch rush.
| Rank | Must-Have Coverage | Why It’s Critical |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Property Insurance | Covers storm, fire, theft, and equipment damage |
| 2 | General Liability | Lawsuits from slips, food poisoning, or basic accidents |
| 3 | Liquor Liability | Required by Oklahoma and covers dram shop claims |
| 4 | Workers’ Comp | Mandatory and covers employee injuries and lawsuits |
| 5 | Cyber Liability | Protects customer payment data and business operations |
Tailored Coverage by Restaurant Type
Different concepts need different coverage. Here's how coverage shifts depending on what kind of restaurant you run:
| Business Type | What You Need |
|---|---|
| Food Trucks | Inland marine (for mobile gear), trailer coverage, and commercial auto for the truck |
| Fine Dining & Bars | High liquor limits, valet liability, spoilage from power loss, wine storage |
| Fast Casual | EPLI (for hiring/firing disputes), high staff turnover risk protection, cyber coverage |
| Franchise Locations | Umbrella limits, brand protection, and franchise compliance endorsements |
Final Thought
Look, you’ve got enough to worry about—staffing, food costs, inflation, and TikTok trends. Insurance shouldn’t be another unknown on your plate.
At Conway Insurance, we specialize in helping Oklahoma restaurants like yours find the right coverage without paying more than you need to. Whether you’re deep-frying in Edmond or pouring wine in Tulsa, we’ve got your back.
ποΈ Ready to Talk Through Your Options?
We’re Conway Insurance, and we’ve helped thousands of Oklahoma business owners—and many in Texas too—get protected without overpaying. We’ll ask the right questions, explain the fine print, and recommend coverage that makes sense—not just for today, but for where you’re headed.
π Call us at 405-733-2886
?? Or schedule your appointment online
Let’s make insurance one less thing you have to stress about. Email us directly at steven@conwayinsuranceok.com if you'd rather reach out by message than schedule a call.
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